Traditionally, Americans prefer to buy domestically produced goods. This sense of patriotism also carries an implication of quality and longevity. Despite this, Nova Cadamatre, a Master of Wine and owner of several wine brands, points out that 70% of the U.S. wine market is domestic, while imported wine only constitutes 30%.
However, small American producers like Cappiello and Cadamatre face a significant challenge. Wines crafted by small-scale producers cost more to produce than the wines most frequently purchased by American consumers. Around 73% of wines in the U.S. market sell for under $8. These affordable, generic wines typically come from large corporations with the capacity for extensive economy of scale.
Despite these challenges, premium American wines, particularly California reds, still enjoy a strong presence in Chicago’s many steakhouses. Still, for small producers outside iconic regions like Napa, competition is steep. Inexpensive, high-quality imported wines and a preference among wine professionals for European imports have exacerbated their struggles.
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